Page 39 of Midnight Wedding

“Get the paperwork ready,” Arsen snaps at the priest, not bothering to look at him. The man hurries over to a briefcase left on the table.

“Does that mean it’s real?” I whisper.

Arsen nods slowly. “It’s real. My wife.” And I’m starting to wonder, based on that kiss and the way he’s looking at me, if this whole thing might be about more than just the baby growing in me.

“I don’t thinkyour brother likes me very much,” I say, staring out the window of the car. We’re headed north through the city, speeding away from the congested parts of Baltimore and toward the more spread-out suburban edges.

“It’s not his fault.”

“You punched him.”

“He needs to respect you, whether he wants you around or not.”

“What’s his deal? I mean, I know this is short notice, but?—”

He glances at me. His eyes are hooded and lost in shadows from the street lights as he drives. “Our marriage is going to cause problems.”

I don’t even know how to respond to that and he doesn’t seem interested in elaborating.

Row homes disappear and are replaced by sprawling yards and Tudor-style single-family structures. Arsen keeps going until he reaches a wall-ringed property with an actual black metal gate out front. He pushes a button on his garage door opener and the gate rolls slowly aside.

“Fancy,” I murmur, and he’s smiling slightly as we roll down a twisting driveway through tall oak trees and manicured bushes until a massive building comes into view.

It’s enormous. At least the size of a city block. The front has multiple entrances and the facade looks like it’s a Swiss skiing chalet. Flowers are everywhere, beautiful and in bloom, and a fountain sputters in low track lighting. He parks and kills the engine.

“You live here?” I manage to say. “Is it a hotel or something?”

“This is my house. It’s your house too now.”

I laugh but he’s clearly not kidding. “This is crazy. This place is enormous.”

“Sixty rooms. Allegedly.” He pushes his door open and gets out.

“Wait, hold on.” I hurry after him, aware that I’m still in the wedding dress. “You’re not messing with me, are you?”

“Not at all.” He strides down a path and toward a smaller side entrance. I’m exhausted and really dragging myself after him, and I know I’m missing a ton of little details all around me, but it’s dark and I can barely stay upright.

He unlocks the door and we’re inside. Everything’s dim and quiet. Hardwood floors, expensive paintings on the walls. Wealth, taste, luxury, the kind of house I’ve never even seen the inside of, let alone walked through. I stay close to Arsen, feeling like I might get the place dirty with my poverty.

But there are odd places. Little nooks and crannies. Narrow hallways, small doors. There are murmurs all over like the walls are talking. It feels like there are eyes everywhere and I shuffle closer to Arsen, not sure why the place creeps me out so much. Maybe it’s all the dark wood and the looming paintings.

We go upstairs. The master bedroom is in the east wing tucked in the back corner. Big double doors open into a wide space, and for the first time since we entered the house, I feel a little bit safe and comfortable.

“I’ll get you clothes,” he says and lets me change in a big, modern bathroom. The tiles are cold under my feet. I put on sweats and a big hoodie, and he is waiting for me when I come back out.

“I have to call my parents,” I tell him, hugging myself. The wedding dress is hanging on the back of the bathroom door, but I’ve still got on the ring. I’ll probably be wearing it for a very long time. Maybe the rest of my life.

“In the morning. They’ll be okay for one night.”

“What about my things?”

“I’ll have them sent over in the morning.” He begins to undress. I stare at him, unable to take my eyes away. “Certain wings of the house are off-limits,” he murmurs softly as he takes off his shirt. I can’t even pretend to be surprised. The vibe of this place is turn-of-the-century horror novel and I’m trapped betweenloving it and feeling pretty sure I’m about to get possessed by a demon.

“Why?” I ask because he’s basically dangling meth in front of an addict right about now. I lick my lips at the sight of his built torso.

“Renovations. The building is old and some sections are still unsafe.” He gives me a hard look as he yanks on a clean shirt. “This is for your safety.”

“Right. Understood. Keep out.”

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